Method for producing remotely a display device storing one or more audio messages

ABSTRACT

A picture frame and accompanying audio message circuit is provided such that one or more desired audio messages stored in the audio message circuit associated with one or more display pictures can be played upon the touching of the pictures or the frame, or in response to a voice recognition device sensing an audio command associated with the particular audio message and/or pictures. When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under a protective cover for the picture is activated by touching, or a position sensitive device may be used to sense whether a particular position on the picture has been touched. Digital or analog information representing the desired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which is subsequently transmitted to a speaker which produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. In other embodiments, multiple picture and multiple messages are provided such that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switch associated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to the picture is then played through the speaker. In still other embodiments, a system is provided with a plurality of pictures mounted in the perimeter faces of a cube or other geometrical shape, each picture having associated with it a switch for activating a message or plurality of messages. In still other embodiments, a position sensitive device or a voice recognition device is utilized to initiate audio message playback.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/782,921, filed Feb.13, 2001, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/399,127,filed Sep. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,310, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 08/788,625, filed Jan. 24, 1997,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,682, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/617,708, filed Apr. 1, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No.6,185,851, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.08/121,955, filed Sep. 15, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,836, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 07/711,153, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pictures and audio messages and moreparticularly to a picture frame with an audio message circuit in whichone or more audio messages associated with displayed picture(s) areplayed upon touching the picture(s) or the frame, or in response totouching of a position sensitive device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to display pictures such as photographs of family members ormomentous occasions or the like inside of a frame. The frame typicallyenhances the aesthetics of the displayed picture, provides protectionfor the picture and/or provides a suitable means for mounting ordisplaying the picture. Such ordinary frames, however, present a stillpicture only and do not have an audio message circuit as a part of theframe by which an audio message associated with the displayed picture isplayed upon touching the picture or the frame.

It is also known in the art to have greeting cards or the like such thatwhen the greeting card is opened, prerecorded tonal music is played.Such prior art devices, however, do not provide a frame for the displayof desired pictures, and further do not allow for an arbitrary audiomessage or messages such as the voice of a user to be activated whendesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior art by providing a picture frame and accompanying audio messagecircuit such that one or more desired audio messages associated with oneor more displayed pictures can be played upon the touching of thepictures or the frame. The present invention is particularly suited forintegrated and low cost construction such that a picture frame withassociated audio message capabilities is provided for displayingmomentous or family photographs or for educational purposes.

When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under aprotective cover for the picture (called a “plate” herein) is activatedby touching. Under CPU control, digital information representing thedesired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which issubsequently converted to an analog signal and transmitted to a speakerwhich produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. Inother embodiments, multiple pictures and multiple messages are providedsuch that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switchassociated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to thatpicture is then played through the speaker.

In still other embodiments, a system is provided such that an image iscaptured electronically through a camera or the like. The electronicinformation representing the picture, and associated electronicinformation representing the audio message, is then transmitted over asuitable transmission medium such that it is remotely received. On thereceiving end, a still picture is produced for insertion into thepicture frame, and the received audio message is input into a voicemessage circuit. With these embodiments, the picture frame and voicemessage circuit of the present invention can be produced remotely fromthe origin of the picture and the audio message. Such embodiments haveapplication, for example, for the remote delivery of a commemorativepicture and message such as to a sick relative located in a far offlocation. All of this is accomplished in the prevent invention with anintegrated and low cost construction, providing advantages not presentin the prior art devices.

In still other embodiments, the frame may be formed as a geometricshape, with pictures positioned in various faces of the geometric shape,with playback of a particular message or messages associated with apicture positioned in a particular face initiated by touching of theparticular picture/face. In still other embodiments, a positionsensitive device, such as a touch screen is included in order to provideparticular messages to be associated and stored at particular positionswith respect to the displayed picture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apicture frame with an audio message circuit in which one or more audiomessages associated with a displayed picture are played upon thetouching of the picture or the frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture framewith multiple pictures, with multiple audio messages associated witheach of the displayed pictures, such that a user can initiate playbackof an audio message associated with a particular picture by activating aswitch associated with that particular picture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a picture framethat can play an audio message with the audio message in the voice of adesired person.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pictureframe in which the audio message is programmable by the user.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pictureframe in which the audio messages are stored under CPU control such thatthe audio message playback can be initiated by touching switches on theframe or a switch associated with the picture itself. It is an object ofthis invention to provide a system for providing the picture to beinserted in the frame and the audio message to be stored in the audiomessage circuit remotely from the point at which the picture and audiomessage are generated.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide such apicture frame in form of a geometric shape, or a picture frameincorporating a position sensitive device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a single picture embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a multi-picture embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the audio message circuit of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of another embodiment of the audio message circuitof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of the remote transmit/receivecircuit of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a multi-picture embodiment of the presentinvention in which the frame is of a geometric shape such as a cube.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment with a picture (or plurality ofpictures) positioned behind a transparent touch screen, as an exemplaryposition sensitive device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an exemplary transparent touch screen positionsensitive device that may be used in certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of electronics utilizinga touch screen type of position sensitive device in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the preferred and alternate embodimentsof the present invention will now be described. Although the presentinvention will be described in terms of pictures or photographs, itshould be understood that any fixed object from which a visual image canbe perceived, such as sketches, drawings, lettering or the like, oractual objects in a suitable enclosure such as to be framed, also can beutilized with the present invention. Similarly, while the presentinvention will be described in terms of audio messages such as ordinaryhuman speech, it should be understood that any audio information, suchas music, animal or wildlife noises or the like also can be utilizedwith the present invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate two embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 1A illustrates picture 2, which can be any fixed image such as astill picture or portrait of a person, inside of frame 8. Picture 2 isaffixed to or contained in frame 8 in any suitable way, such as byinserting in grooves or slots (not explicitly shown) in the rear offrame 8 (such as in ordinary picture frames), or may be affixed by wayof adhesives or by mounting a retainer plate (not explicitly shown) withscrews or the like to frame 8 with picture 2 contained between theretainer plate and frame 8. Picture 2 is covered by plate 4, which canbe any transparent covering, either rigid or flexible, and in thepreferred embodiment is glass or plastic. Plate 4 is affixed to frame 8in any suitable way much as with picture 2 described above.

Attached to frame 8 is speaker 14, from which audio messages aretransmitted. The playing of audio messages is initiated by activation ofone or more switches 9, which can be located at suitable location(s)around the periphery of frame 8. Switches 9 can be located at otherlocations on frame 8, such as on the top or bottom of frame 8 (iflocated on the bottom of frame 8, switch 9 may have a spring offset sothat the weight of frame 8 itself does not activate the switch) or onthe rear of frame 8. What is important is that a user of the device havea mechanism to initiate playback of audio messages. As indicated bysensor switch 6, the audio message playback initiation also may beaccomplished by way of a sensor or switch attached to, or part of plate4. Sensor switch 6 can be any suitable mechanism, such as a capacitiveor membrane switch located under plate 4 or near the periphery of frame8 so as to be unnoticeable to the user. In such embodiments, audiomessage playback is initiated by the user directly touching plate 4,which activates sensor switch 6.

In certain embodiments, frame 8 also includes microphone 12, which canbe any suitable device for transducing incoming audio information (suchas a human voice) into electrical signals for subsequent processing andstorage (see discussion of FIG. 2 below). Microphone 12 provides easyuser programmability of the audio messages to be replayed, and inparticular programmability of the audio messages in the voice of theuser or some other desired person. In other embodiments, microphone 12is not provided, and the audio messages are provided by the manufactureror supplier of the unit, although even in these embodiments the audiomessage may be the voice of the user or some other desired person orthing.

In another embodiment, the audio message circuit contains multiplemessages associated with the displayed picture, with playback of themultiple messages initiated by multiple activations of the sensor orother switch (i.e., multiple message scrolling with multiple switchactivations, etc.).

With reference to FIG. 1B, another embodiment of the present inventionwill be described. FIG. 1B illustrates frame 22 containing multiplepictures 20. The embodiment of FIG. 1B also includes multiple audiomessages such that one or more messages correspond with each of thedisplayed pictures (in certain embodiments, multiple messages may bescrolled with multiple switch activations, as described above withreference to FIG. 1A). As discussed below, a mechanism is provided forthe user to initiate audio message playback of the particular message(s)associated with particular pictures. For example, one picture may be apicture of the user's mother, with the audio message associated withthat picture being the mother's voice, while another picture may be apicture of the user's father, with the audio message associated withthat picture being the father's voice. The user, such as a child, cantouch the picture of the mother (or a switch near the picture of themother) and hear a message in the mother's voice, and similarly with thepicture of the father.

More generally, pictures of a number of persons can be included in theembodiment of FIG. 1B, with specific audio messages associated with eachof the persons. In another specific embodiment, the pictures are ofselected animals, with the audio messages being information regardingthose animals, or wildlife sounds made by the animals themselves. Manyother combinations of pictures and audio messages can be utilized in thepresent invention; the choices are limited only by the imagination ofthe user.

In FIG. 1B, pictures 20 are covered by multiple plates or a single plate(not explicitly shown, but such plate(s) are similar to plate 4 of FIG.1A). Pictures 20 and the plate(s) are affixed to frame 22 in anysuitable way, much as was described with respect to picture 2, plate 4and frame 8 of FIG. 1A. Mounted on frame 22 is speaker 28 and, incertain embodiments, microphone 25. Attached to frame 22 are multipleswitches 26 associated with pictures 20. Audio message playback of aparticular message associated with a particular picture 20 is initiatedby touching one of switches 26 associated with the particular picture.As discussed with respect to FIG. 1A, in alternate embodiments the audiomessage playback is initiated by way of a sensor switch attached to theplate(s) covering pictures 20 (similar to plate 4 and sensor switch 6 ofFIG. 1A). In such embodiments, audio message playback of a particularmessage associated with a particular picture 20 is initiated by directlytouching the plate covering that particular picture 20, therebyactivating the sensor switch (again, similar to sensor switch 6 of FIG.1A).

Referring now to FIG. 2, an audio message circuit for use in anembodiment of the present invention will be described. Microphone 34receives audio information (such as a desired voice message of a user ora desired person or thing) and converts the audio information intoelectrical signals which are input to analog to digital converter(“ADC”) 38. The digital output of ADC 38 is input to CPU 30 forsubsequent processing and storage in memory 32. CPU 30 is programmed toprovide monitoring of switch inputs 56 and/or switch multiplexer 58,overall circuit coordination and control, and, in the preferredembodiment, compression and expansion of the stored audio message usingknown compression/expansion techniques. CPU 30 can be any suitablemicroprocessor or digital processing unit.

Memory 32 can be dynamic or static random access memory (“RAM”) (with orwithout separate battery back-up), read only memory (“ROM”),programmable read only memory, either UV or electrically erasable, ornon-erasable (“PROM”), or one time programmable memory (“OTP”) (acertain type of PROM that is field programmable but only one time),optical disks, memory cards, serial memory (such as bubble memory) orany other suitable device for storing digital information.

For audio message playback, under the control of CPU 30, digitalinformation representing the audio message is output from memory 32 todigital to analog converter (“DAC”) 40 over the bus connected to CPU 30and memory 32. The analog signal output of DAC 40 is connected toamplifier 35, the output of which is connected to speaker 36. Speaker 36converts the output of amplifier 35 into audio waves perceptible to ahuman listener. Depending on the desired sound quality, DAC 40 oramplifier 35 may include conventional filtering circuitry forelimination of circuit noise or the like. In alternative embodiments,the output of DAC 40 also is connected to buffer/amplifier 62 which isconnected to auxiliary output 64. By use of auxiliary output 64, thepresent invention may be utilized with a separate external speaker, orthe audio messages may be recorded on an external storage device such asa tape recorder (not shown) for purposes of archiving the voice messageor the like.

CPU 30 receives control information from control signal input 54 andswitch inputs 56. In certain embodiments, switch inputs 56 are receivedfrom switch multiplexer 58. Inputs to switch multiplexer 58 includeconnections from the audio message initiation switches, such as switches9 or sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1A or switches 26 of FIG. 1B. In responseto activation of switches 9 or 26, or sensor switch 6, signals on switchinputs 56 (either directly or through a multiplexer such as multiplexer58) cause CPU 30 to initiate audio message playback through speaker 36.

In certain embodiments, the audio message to be played back is alreadyin digital form, and thus may be input to CPU 30 by port 52. Port 52 maybe any suitable input-output device, serial or parallel, useful forinterfacing a CPU to an external digital device. Digital audioinformation received from port 52 is sent to CPU 30 for processing andstorage in memory 32, and for subsequent playback through DAC 40,amplifier 35 and speaker 36. Control of digital information through port52 may be made by way of control signals 54 in a conventional manner.

Electrical power for the components illustrated in FIG. 2 is provided bypower supply 46 over power terminals 44. In the preferred embodiment,power supply 46 is a battery. In other embodiments, power supply 46 isconnected to AC power supply 42, which in the preferred embodiment is anordinary household AC voltage line. In such embodiments, power supply 46includes circuitry to convert the AC voltage to a suitable DC voltage.In still other embodiments, power supply 46 includes a rechargeablebattery, and AC supply 42 supplies current for recharging the batterywithin power supply 46.

In still other embodiments, power supply 46 has connected to it acircuit for detection and indication of a low battery condition, such asby way of low battery circuit 48. Low battery circuit 48, by way ofcontrol line 50, can provide control information to CPU 30 for purposesof, for example, ensuring that the batteries are not completelydischarged. In certain embodiments, such as those including a RAMdevice, upon response from a control signal from low battery circuit 48,CPU 30 disables message playback to conserve the battery charge so as toensure that the information contained in the RAM is preserved. In otherembodiments an indication that the batteries need to be changed orcharged is provided to the user by an indicator such as an LED or light(not explicitly shown) in low battery circuit 48.

In the preferred embodiment, the circuit of FIG. 2 is provided withon-off switch 60 such that message playback can be disabled. Forexample, if the present invention must be transported in a box orsuitcase or the like, on-off switch 60 provides a convenient means forensuring that playback is not initiated by inadvertent touching ofswitches 9 or sensor switch 6, avoiding problems such as undesired audiomessage playback and battery discharge. With reference to FIGS. 1A and1B, on-off switch 60 can be located in an unobtrusive location such ason the rear of frame 8 or 22.

For illustrative purposes, FIG. 2 also shows a fractional view of theembodiment shown in FIG. 1A, with the dashed lines indicating generalcorrespondence between the circuit elements of FIG. 2 and the elementsshown on frame 8 of FIG. 1A. As indicated, microphone 34 of FIG. 2corresponds to microphone 12 of FIG. 1A; speaker 36 of FIG. 2corresponds to speaker 14 of FIG. 1A; and switch input 56 of FIG. 2(either directly or through multiplexer 58) corresponds to, for exampleswitches 9 of FIG. 1A (and also sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1A). Similarcorrespondence could be drawn between elements of FIG. 1B and FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of an audio message circuitfor use in the present invention will be discussed. Storage circuit 100contains digital information representing an audio message to be playedback, either in compressed or uncompressed form (if compressed, storagecircuit 100 also contains a suitable circuit for expansion of the audiomessage). Digital information is input to storage circuit 100 in thecourse of manufacturing storage circuit 100 (such as a mask layer PLA ora programmed read only memory device) or may be input by way of port 108(in the event storage circuit 100 includes, for example, a writablerandom access memory device or a programmable read only memory device),under control of control input 109. In other embodiments, storagecircuit 100 is externally programmed before it is inserted into thecircuit shown in FIG. 3. Power supply 110 over power terminals 112provides power to the circuit elements of FIG. 3 in a manner similar tothat of power supply 46 discussed in reference to FIG. 2. In otherembodiments, storage circuit 100 is a CPU and memory, such as CPU 30 andmemory 32 of FIG. 2.

Message playback from storage circuit 100 is initiated by switch 110.Switch 110 may be, for example, switches 9 or sensor switch 6 of FIG. 1Aor switches 26 of FIG. 1B. Under control of counting/clocking circuit102, digital information is received from storage circuit 100, inputinto DAC 104, with the resulting audio signals applied to amplifier 105,the output of which is connected to speaker 106, by which the audiomessage is played.

While the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 store the audiomessage in digital form, in other embodiments, the audio message isstored in analog form such as on a magnetic tape, phonographrecording(s) or the like.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, light activation ofaudio message playback is provided. Light sensor 10 of FIG. 1A and lightsensor 24 of FIB. 1B generate control signals in response to receivinglight that exceeds a threshold intensity. In response to this controlsignal, which can be input to CPU 30 by way of switch inputs 56 (forexample), audio message playback is initiated by CPU 30. In theseembodiments, a special message can be played in response to lightactivation (such as a “good morning” message) as opposed to a possiblydifferent message played in response to switch activation.

With reference to FIG. 4, a system and method for remotely transmittingpictures and audio messages for use in the present invention will now bedescribed. Camera 72 electronically captures a suitable image, such asan image of person 70. Analog information from camera 72 is input tovideo frame store 76. Video frame store 76 can be any of a number ofconventional devices for receiving the output of a video camera andproducing an electrical representation (in the preferred embodimentdigital) of a particular frame of the video image produced by the videocamera. Under control of CPU 80, digital information output from videoframe store 76, representing the desired picture or image information,is stored in memory 82. As with memory 32 of FIG. 2, memory 82 may beany suitable memory or digital storage device. In other embodiments, thedesired picture already exists, and in lieu of camera 72, an electricalrepresentation of the picture is produced by a conventional scanningdevice, the output of which is coupled to CPU 80.

The desired audio message is input to microphone 74, the analog outputof which is input to ADC 78. Under control of CPU 80, the digital outputof ADC 78 representing the desired audio message is stored in memory 82.

Under control of CPU 80, digital information representing the audiomessage and desired picture is retrieved from memory 82 and transmittedto transceiver 84A. Transceiver 84A transmits this digital informationover transmission link 85 where it is subsequently received bytransceiver 84B. Transceiver 84A and 84B and transmission link 85 may beany suitable combination of devices and media such that digitalinformation may be transmitted from one point to a remote location. Inthe preferred embodiment, transceivers 84A and 84B are conventionalmodems, and transmission medium 85 is an ordinary phoneline. Also in thepreferred embodiment, CPU 80 and CPU 86 perform coordinated errorchecking and correction in a conventional manner to ensure the integrityof the transmitted digital information. In other embodiments, high speeddigital and/or analog transmit and receive devices are used oversuitable media, such as dedicated phone lines, dedicated data lines,satellite links and the like.

The information received from transceiver 84B is stored in memory 88under control of CPU 86. Also under control of CPU 86, digitalinformation representing a desired picture or image (such as a pictureof person 70) is transmitted to video frame store 92. Video frame store92 may be any conventional device which produces an output suitable forinput to printer 93. Printer 93 produces a hard copy form of the pictureof the desired quality. Printer 93 can be a traditional photo generatingdevice, hard copy video printer or a high quality inkjet graphicsprinter or the like. The output of printer 93 is a hard copy picture,such as picture 94.

Picture 94 may be then utilized such as picture 2 in FIG. 1A or one ofpictures 20 of FIG. 1B. Under the control of CPU 86, digital informationrepresenting the audio message can be output from port 90 to a suitablestorage device. Such a storage device can be memory 32 (under control ofCPU 30) of FIG. 2, or it can be storage circuit 100 of FIG. 3. Audiomessage playback can then be initiated as discussed with respect toFIGS. 1A, 1B, FIG. 2 and 3. For use with the embodiment of FIG. 1B,multiple pictures and multiple audio messages are transmitted andreceived using the circuit of FIG. 4.

CPU 80 and CPU 86 are illustrated in FIG. 4 electrically connected toother circuit elements by way of separate wires or buses. In otherembodiments CPU 80 and CPU 86 are electrically connected to othercircuit elements by way of a single bus similar to CPU 30 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the present invention may be implemented in theform of a geometric shape, such as cube 200, with multiple faces 210that may hold one or more pictures, such as picture 220. Cube 200 may bemounted on pedestal 250, although in other embodiments pedestal 250 isnot provided. Under pedestal 250 is located microphone 230, which isoptimally provided close to the surface on which the cube rests. It hasbeen discovered that such microphone positioning can provide desirablerecording characteristics in such embodiments. Speaker 240 in theillustrated embodiment is located within the top face of cube 200,although in other embodiments speaker 240 may be built within pedestal250.

In the preferred implementation of this embodiment, multiple faces areprovided in the geometrically shaped frame, and multiple messages areincluded in the audio message circuit, with one or more messagesassociated with each picture/face of the geometric shape. Touchsensitive or sensor switches are located correspondingly with eachpicture/face of the geometric shape, so that audio message playback of amessage associated with a particular picture/face of the geometric shapemay be initiated by directly touching that picture or face. In otherembodiments, non-sensor switches (such as switches 26 of FIG. 1B) areused instead of sensor switches. As with other embodiments describedherein, multiple messages may be associated with a single picture/faceof the geometric shape, with playback of the multiple messages initiatedby multiple activations of the corresponding switch (i.e., multiplemessage scrolling with multiple switch activations, etc.).

In such embodiments, the control electronics and other elements of theaudio message circuit and related components such as the speaker,microphone and battery, etc., may be conveniently positioned within theinterior of the cube or other geometric shape.

In yet other embodiments, one face of the geometric shape (e.g., the topface) may contain a clock having an alarm function. In such embodiments,the alarm time may cause initiation of message playback, which may be amessage particularly corresponding to a particular picture or the clockalarm. Such a clock and alarm may be readily implemented in a variety ofways by one of skill in the art.

Electronics that may be used for alternate embodiments are illustratedin FIG. 6. Such embodiments utilize a Direct Analog Storage Technology(DAST) device (300) such as that manufactured by Information StorageDevices for recording, storing and subsequently playing the recordedmessages. The DAST can store up to 20 seconds worth of audio messagesthat can be played as one 20 second message or that can be divided intoa plurality of shorter messages. DASTs can also (not shown) be cascadedto provide up to one minute of record/play time. In other embodiments,different message lengths are utilized.

A plurality of switches 310 are input into digital multiplexingcircuitry 360 that converts the switch inputs into an address forselecting the start address of DAST 300. Each picture may have oneswitch associated with it. When the user wishes to hear a message for aparticular picture the user touches the picture (which may be a sensorswitch) or the other switch associated with the picture. Digitalmultiplexing circuitry 360 decodes the switch input and provides anaddress to DAST 300 and also provides the corresponding control signalsto DAST 300 to cause it to play a particular pre-recorded message. Theaudio is played through speaker 330. Power to DAST 300 is provided bybattery 350, or can alternately be provided by a low voltage DC powersupply.

When a user wishes to record a message play/record switch 320 is placedto the record position. The user then touches the picture or pictureswitch associated with a picture and speaks into microphone 340. Digitalmultiplexing circuitry 360 decodes the picture switch selected andprovides an address to DAST 300 and provides the control signalssignaling DAST 300 to record a message. When the message is complete,play/record switch 320 is returned to the play position. A plurality ofmessages associated with either a plurality of pictures or a pluralityof messages for one picture can be recorded utilizing the aboveprocedure.

Other embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 7-9. In such alternative embodiments, the pictureframe may include a position sensitive device, which may be used toadvantageously record and playback audio messages in accordance with thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a picture (or pictures) may be positioned behindtransparent touch screen 404, as an exemplary position sensitive device.Touch screen 404 and picture 402) may positioned inside (or as a partof) frame 400 as illustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, touch screen 404 may be, for example, ofconventional resistive design and sensitive to pressure and position. Itmay be constructed of two layers of transparent resistive material, eachhaving rectangular areas 406 connected by thin conductive strips. Inthis exemplary embodiment, one layer has horizontally connected strips408 (the ‘X’ layer), the other layer (the ‘Y’ layer) has verticallyconnected strips (not specifically shown). The two layers are physicallyseparated from each other by a transparent material (not shown)containing a matrix or other pattern of holes, which serves to hold thetwo layers apart from one another until pressure is applied to the touchscreen. When pressure is applied, such as from a finger, Ohmic contactwill be made on one or more of the pairs of rectangular areas 406, wherethe pairs of areas are the areas formed on the ‘X’ layer and ‘Y’ layer,respectively. The position of the finger is determined by determiningwhich rectangular area pair is making Ohmic contact. This may be done ina conventional matrix switch manner by applying a voltage to each of the‘X’ inputs 412 sequentially and measuring a current (or voltage) on eachof the ‘Y’ inputs 414. If a voltage is detected on any of the ‘Y’ inputswhen a voltage is applied to any of the ‘X’ inputs, then the location ofthe finger can be determined. Note that the layers of touch screen 404can be reversed. Voltage may be applied either to the ‘X’ layer or tothe ‘Y’ layer and measured on the opposite layer. Thus, the signal linesfor both the ‘X’ layer and ‘Y’ layer are labeled as inputs, even thoughone or the other layer typically will serve as an output. Additionally,although FIG. 8 illustrates 16 rectangular contact areas, more or fewerareas may be utilized in touch screen 404. The areas also need not berectangular but may be square, round or any other desired shape.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of electronics that may be used todecode signals from touch screen 404 and to record and play messagesutilizing Digital Analog Storage Device 422, which may be a DAST asdescribed earlier. Logic element 410 may include a RISC processor suchas a PIC16C57 manufactured by Microchip, or it may be an FPGA (FieldProgrammable Gate Array) or any other logic element suitable fordecoding such switch arrays. Logic element 410 also includes play/recordswitch input 420. Play/record switch 420 is utilized to select whetherthe system operates in play-back mode (to play pre-recorded messages) orin record mode (to record and store messages). A plurality of messagesmay be stored in DAST 422. Coupled to DAST 422 are speaker 424,microphone 426 and battery/power supply 428, all of which may beconstructed and operate as described earlier.

Referring again to FIG. 7, picture 402 may include a plurality ofsubjects (e.g., persons), and may have a plurality of messagesassociated with the subjects. The messages maybe recorded in such anembodiment by switching play/record switch 420 to the record positionand pressing touch screen 404 at a desired location associated with thenew message. The system then records the new message as it is input intomicrophone 426. With such an embodiment, messages may be positionallyassociated to desired or corresponding locations of the displayedpicture. The length of the message may vary depending upon how manymessages are stored in the system and the size of memory in DAST 422(which may be constructed to be of the desired size, etc.). A secondmessage may be recorded by touching a second area on touch screen 404and recording a second message associated with that particular portionof the picture. A third message and fourth message and so on may berecorded for different areas of the picture. Logic element 410, ineffect, records an address or pointer for each of the messages stored inDAST 422, and records or initiates playback by providing such address orpointer, along with any necessary control signals, to DAST 422. When allmessages have been recorded, play/record switch 420 may be switched tothe play position.

The system then plays a particular message whenever an area of thepicture corresponding to that message is pressed by a user. In certainembodiments, if a specific area is pressed and such specific area doesnot have a message associated with it, the system plays no message. Inother embodiments, the system may be programmed to play a genericmessage (pre-recorded by the user as described above, such as with aseparate record switch or other implement to indicate a generic, ornon-position specific message) for those areas that do not have aspecific message associated therewith. Such generic or non-positionspecific messages may be group greetings or the like.

In an alternate embodiment, transparent touch screen 404 is replaced bya membrane switch panel of conventional design. Such a membrane switchpanel position sensitive device may be located behind the picture, andmay have a plurality of switches covering the area where a picture orpictures are to be displayed. Such a membrane switch panel may bedecoded in a manner similar to the touch screen described above, andoperated in a similar manner.

In yet another embodiment, transparent touch screen 404 is replaced by acapacitive type “continuous” touch screen, as are known in the art. Whatshould be noted from the foregoing is that the type of touch screen ormatrix of switches is not critical for such embodiments, althoughdifferent methods may present different considerations from aconstructional and cost point of view, etc. What is important is that apicture has a plurality of messages associated with it that can berecorded and subsequently played back by touching specific areas of thepicture, thereby enabling position-specific messages to be associatedwith particular portions of a displayed picture. As an example, apicture may contain a number of persons, and one or more messagesassociated with each person may be recorded and played back by touchingthat person. Other advantageous uses of such embodiments will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

In an additional embodiment, the system has limited voice recognitioncapability, such as may be provided by voice recognition unit 430 ofFIG. 9 Voice recognition unit 430, which may be of conventional design,receives an input from microphone 426. Signals from microphone 426 areinput to voice recognition unit 430, which attempts to find a matchbetween the input signal and previously stored “commands” or “keywords/phrases”, which are recorded in voice recognition unit 430, usingrecord command input 432. Record command input 432 is used to store invoice recognition unit 430 certain speech patterns that may berecognized and used, for example, to initiate particular messageplayback. For example, if a displayed picture (or pictures) includesseveral people, playback of a specific pre-recorded message associatedwith a particular person may be initiated by a voice command that isrecognized by voice recognition unit 430. For example, a messageassociated with a person in a displayed picture who is named Susan maybe played back by saying “hello Susan” for example. Upon recognition of“hello Susan” by voice recognition unit 430, a message associated withSusan will be played through speaker 424, by way of a command from voicerecognition unit 430, which may be coupled to logic element 410.Similarly, a message associated with “John” who may be in the samepicture maybe played back by saying “hello John”. The storing of thecommand may occur prior to, or after, storing of the audio messageassociated with that command. Such a voice recognition embodiment may beused with or without combination with a position sensitive device suchas touch screen 404.

In yet another embodiment, multiple messages are associated withspecific areas of the picture. In this embodiment, two or more messagesmay be associated with a particular positional area. The messages may bestored in a manner as previously described. The first time that an areaof a displayed picture or pictures is selected, the first message isrecorded. The second time that an area of the displayed picture orpictures is selected, the second message is recorded, and so on. Inplayback mode, the first time that an area is selected the first messageis played. The second time that the area is selected the second messageis played, and so on. A control input (not explicitly shown) coupled tologic element 410 may be used to controllably select or activate such amultiple message mode of operation.

Additionally, it will be understood that such additional embodiments maybe combined with previously described embodiments to provide pictureframes with associated audio message capability of various desiredfunctions and features, all in accordance with the present invention.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred andalternative embodiment, it will be obvious to one skilled in the artthat many alternations and modifications may be made withoutsubstantially departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,it is intended that all such alternations and modifications be includedin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Reference is made to copending application Ser. No. 08/617,708, filedApr. 1, 1996, and its parent application Ser. No. 08/121,955, U.S. Pat.No. 5,504,836, and its parent application, Ser. No. 07/711,153, filedJun. 6, 1991, now abandoned. This application is a continuation-in-partof the foregoing applications.

We claim:
 1. A method for remotely producing a still picture framedisplay device and for displaying one or more pictures with the displaydevice at at least one second location remote from a first location,comprising the steps of: generating electrical representationscorresponding to the one or more pictures at the first location remotefrom the second location; transmitting the electrical representationsfrom the first location to the second location via a transmissionmedium; providing the display device at the second location remote fromthe first location; receiving the electrical representations via thetransmission medium at the second location remote from the firstlocation; and based on the received electrical representations,displaying the one or more pictures via the display device at the secondlocation remote from the first location.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the electrical representations include one or more audiomessages corresponding to the one or more pictures, wherein the one ormore audio messages is/are playable via the display device at the secondlocation.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more audiomessages are played via a speaker that is part of the display device. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the speaker is external to the displaydevice.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more audio messagescorrespond to particular ones of the one or more displayed pictures. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the display device displays one or morepictures at the second location, and wherein a user hears the one ormore audio messages at the second location while the one or morepictures are displayed via the display device.
 7. The method of claim 2,wherein the one or more audio messages corresponding to the one or morepictures are played back in response to activation of one or moreswitches.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more switches arelocated on the display device.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the oneor more switches comprise one or more touch sensitive switches.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switchescomprise capacitive or membrane type switches.
 11. The method of claim7, wherein the one or more switches comprise switches that areunnoticeable to a user.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the one ormore switches comprise at least two switches.
 13. The method of claim 7,wherein the one or more switches comprise a light activated switch. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein a predetermined audio message is playedback in response to activation of the light activated switch.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein a first audio message is played back inresponse to activation of a first switch, wherein the predeterminedaudio message is played back in response to the activation of the lightactivated switch.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first audiomessage and the predetermined audio message comprise different audiomessages.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more audiomessages comprise at least two audio messages.
 18. The method of claim17, wherein a first audio message is played back in response toactivation of a first switch, wherein a second audio message is playedback in response to activation of a second switch.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, wherein a first audio message is played back in response to afirst activation of a switch, wherein a second audio message is playedback in response to a second activation of the switch.
 20. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more audio messages is/are stored in thedisplay device in digital form.
 21. The method of claim 2, wherein theone or more audio messages is/are stored in the display device in analogform.
 22. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more audio messagesis/are transmitted over the transmission medium in digital form.
 23. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the one or more audio messages is/are storedin the display device via an input port of the display device.
 24. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the one or more audio messages is/are storedin memory of the display device.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein theone or more audio messages is/are retrieved from memory under control ofa CPU, wherein the one or more audio messages is/are played back througha speaker.
 26. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more audiomessages comprise a commemorative message corresponding to the one ormore pictures.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the display devicedisplays one or more pictures captured with a camera.
 28. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the display device stores and plays back an audiomessage associated with one or more of the one or more pictures capturedwith the camera.
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the electricalrepresentations are generated based on capturing the one or morepictures with a camera.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransmission medium comprises a digital data transmission link, whereinthe electrical representations is/are transmitted over the transmissionmedium in digital form.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the digitaldata transmission link includes processing elements at the firstlocation and the second location, wherein the processing element at thefirst location and the processing element at the second location operatein a coordinated manner to ensure the integrity of the transmittedelectrical representations.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein theprocessing element at the first location and the processing element atthe second location operate to perform error checking.
 33. The method ofclaim 32, wherein the processing element at the first location and theprocessing element at the second location operate to perform errorchecking and correction.
 34. The method of claim 1, wherein the one ormore pictures are displayed via the display device at the secondlocation remote from the first location by display of physicallyinserting the one or more pictures into the display device.
 35. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises at least inpart a telephone line.
 36. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransmission medium comprises at least in part a data line or satellitelink.
 37. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical representationsare transmitted or received at least in part using digital or analogtransmit or receive devices.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein theelectrical representations are transmitted or received at least in partusing a modem.
 39. A method for remotely producing a display devicedisplaying one or more images and also storing one or more audiomessages corresponding to the one or more images at at least one secondlocation remote from a first location, wherein a speaker is providedwith the display device for playback of the one or more audio messagesthrough the speaker, the method comprising the steps of: generatingelectrical representations corresponding to the one or more audiomessages at the first location remote from the second location;transmitting the electrical representations from the first location tothe second location at least in part via a transmission medium;receiving the electrical representations via the transmission medium atthe second location; and storing electrical representations of the oneor more audio messages in the display device at the second location,wherein the one or more audio messages corresponding to the one or morepictures are played back through the speaker.
 40. The method of claim39, wherein the one or more audio messages corresponding to the one ormore images are played back through the speaker in response toactivation of one or more switches.
 41. The method of claim 40, whereinthe one or more switches are located on the display device.
 42. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the one or more switches comprise one ormore touch sensitive switches.
 43. The method of claim 42, wherein theone or more touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membranetype switches.
 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the one or moreswitches comprise switches that are unnoticeable to a user.
 45. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the one or more switches comprise at leasttwo switches.
 46. The method of claim 40, wherein the one or more audiomessages comprise at least two audio messages.
 47. The method of claim31, wherein a first audio message is played back in response toactivation of a first switch, wherein a second audio message is playedback in response to activation of a second switch.
 48. The method ofclaim 46, wherein a first audio message is played back in response to afirst activation of a switch, wherein a second audio message is playedback in response to a second activation of the switch.
 49. The method ofclaim 40, wherein the one or more switches comprise a light activatedswitch.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein a predetermined audiomessage is played back in response to activation of the light activatedswitch.
 51. The method of claim 50, wherein a first audio message isplayed back in response to activation of a first switch, wherein thepredetermined audio message is played back in response to the activationof the light activated switch.
 52. The method of claim 51, wherein thefirst audio message and the predetermined audio message comprisedifferent audio messages.
 53. The method of claim 39, wherein thedisplay device displays one or more images captured with a camera. 54.The method of claim 53, wherein the display device stores and plays backan audio message associated with one or more of the one or more imagescaptured with the camera.
 55. The method of claim 53, further comprisingthe steps of: transmitting electrical representations of the one or moreimages captured with the camera via the transmission medium; receivingthe electrical representations of the one or more images captured withthe camera via the transmission medium at the second location; anddisplaying the one or more images captured with the camera in thedisplay device.
 56. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or moreaudio messages is/are stored in the display device in digital form. 57.The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more audio messages is/arestored in the display device in analog form.
 58. The method of claim 39,wherein the one or more audio messages is/are transmitted over thetransmission medium in digital form.
 59. The method of claim 39, whereinthe one or more audio messages is/are stored in the display device viaan input port of the display device.
 60. The method of claim 39, whereinthe one or more audio messages is/are stored in memory of the displaydevice.
 61. The method of claim 60, wherein the one or more audiomessages is/are retrieved from memory under control of a CPU, whereinthe one or more audio messages is/are played back through the speaker.62. The method of claim 39, wherein the transmission medium comprises adigital data transmission link, wherein the one or more audio messagesis/are transmitted via the transmission medium in digital form.
 63. Themethod of claim 62, wherein the digital data transmission link includesprocessing elements at the first location and the second location,wherein the processing element at the first location and the processingelement at the second location operate in a coordinated manner to ensurethe integrity of the transmitted one or more audio messages.
 64. Themethod of claim 63, wherein the processing element at the first locationand the processing element at the second location operate to performerror checking.
 65. The method of claim 63, wherein the processingelement at the first location and the processing element at the secondlocation operate to perform error checking and correction.
 66. Themethod of claim 39, wherein the transmission medium comprises at leastin part a telephone line.
 67. The method of claim 39, wherein thetransmission medium comprises at least in part a data line or satellitelink.
 68. The method of claim 39, wherein the electrical representationsare transmitted or received at least in part using digital or analogtransmit or receive devices.
 69. The method of claim 39, wherein theelectrical representations are transmitted or received at least in partusing a modem.
 70. The method of claim 39, wherein the one or more audiomessages comprise a commemorative message corresponding to the visualelement.
 71. The method of claim 39, wherein the speaker is part of thedisplay device.
 72. The method of claim 39, wherein the speaker isexternal to the display device.